ABC News boss lashes out at ‘bullies’ who target network’s highest-paid stars

ABC News CEO Justin Stevens has slammed the public broadcaster’s star reporters for their uncompromising critics, calling them “bullies” with “ideological, personal or commercial” interests.

His comments come amid growing anger at the taxpayer-funded broadcaster after it claimed the channel had published a “doctored” view of an Australian soldier made to appear as if he had repeatedly fired at an unarmed civilian.

Forensic digital audio expert James Raper told Channel Seven’s Spotlight that the sound of six gunshots had been “copy-pasted” into footage from a 2022 ABC report on alleged war crimes to make it appear even more sinister.

The ABC has now launched an investigation into how the images were manipulated before they appeared in the online news report by the ABC’s investigations department.

Mr Stevens has fiercely defended the award-winning star journalists behind the investigative series – Jo Puccini, Mark Willacy and Josh Robertson – saying they had “no role in the production or editing” of the clip and that it was removed “immediately” after questions were raised about its veracity.

This manipulated view has led to a furious backlash against the broadcaster, with some critics accusing the ABC of deliberately smearing the nation’s war heroes.

Mr Stevens responded to the offensive footage during a speech on media trust and transparency at the Melbourne Press Club on Tuesday. He said the error “should not have happened” but that the suggestion it had been deliberately “manipulated” was untrue.

He said the ABC was “willing to listen to criticisms made in good faith” and respond appropriately, acknowledging that in the race to cover the biggest stories “mistakes are bound to be made”.

ABC News boss Justin Stevens accuses the public broadcaster’s media rivals of launching targeted, personal attacks on journalists for ideological and commercial reasons

“Missteps sometimes happen. And we must admit when we can do better,” Mr. Stevens said in the speech.

‘Just last week we were alerted by Channel Seven to an error in a video clip in an online story from two years ago.

‘Initial inspection reveals that some of the audio has been incorrectly edited.

“We have removed the video and are still investigating how this happened. Once we have all the facts, we will determine the appropriate response.”

“Until we have clarity on how it happened, I will not make any further statements about it, so as not to prolong the matter.”

He then fired back at the public broadcaster’s most outspoken and unrelenting critics, accusing them of being “bullies” who wanted to wage a vicious war on the personal reputations of ABC journalists.

The ABC has defended ABC investigations editor Jo Puccini after claims that fake gunfire was added to footage of an Australian soldier shooting at Afghans to make it look more sinister

The public broadcaster said award-winning investigative journalist Mark Willacy was not aware of the error in the online news story before it was highlighted by Seven’s Spotlight program

“We expect the ABC to be subject to rigorous and thorough scrutiny and I will not shy away from doing so if necessary,” he said.

But sometimes what is called ‘scrutiny’ is in reality an attack driven by an agenda, motivated by ideological, personal or commercial interests, often targeting specific journalists with the aim of damaging their reputation.

‘This trend on social media and in some media outlets – and let’s be honest and call it what it often is: bullying – is about more than just the ABCs.

‘Spurious attacks on SOME journalists have the potential to undermine the reputations of ALL journalists. And that fuels a crisis of public confidence.

‘That is why the scale of the unfair attacks on ABC journalists, whether by social media trolls, commentators or our media competitors, must be exposed.

“It is disturbing that we disproportionately see women, First Nations and culturally diverse journalists targeted.”

Mr Stevens also accused social media “activists” of amplifying inaccurate criticism and launching “vicious attacks” on the ABC’s highest-paid stars.

Mr Stevens said the ABC’s biggest star journalists – such as Patricia Karvelas (pictured) – were always willing to give public figures with opposing views ‘a platform’ to discuss ideas

“Activists on X, for example, hardly go a day without involving David Speers, the ABC’s respected National Political Lead and Insiders presenter,” he said.

‘David’s track record and work over the past decades are exemplary.

Make no mistake: he is the target of this aggressive attack because a vocal group does not want an impartial journalist in a role such as his.

“They want someone who will take their side. David has the full support and respect of the ABC.”

He said the principle of “impartiality” was often “misunderstood and oversimplified” among ABC journalists, before launching a fresh criticism of the broadcaster’s media competitors.

“Impartiality does not mean that journalists do not have feelings or opinions. Because they are human, of course they do. In fact, humanity is a graceful note of the best journalism,” he said.

ABC News boss Justin Stevens says award-winning ABC star David Speers (pictured) will always have the public broadcaster’s full support and respect

‘It is not only the ABC audience that can expect impartiality.

‘Any credible media organization must ensure that its journalism is accurate and fair. They must have training and processes in place to support that.

‘What is at least as important is that we do not ask journalists to strike a false balance and fall into simplified ‘both-sides’ reporting.

‘In ABC content we expect to see a diversity of perspectives where there are still real unresolved discussions.’

Mr Stevens said the ABC’s journalists never shirked from providing a ‘platform’ to individuals of significant public interest, regardless of whether they personally agree with their views or not.

“I can’t imagine a Patricia Karvelas or a Michael Rowland ever making it easy for anyone,” he said.

ABC News Breakfast presenter Michael Rowland (pictured) was always up for a heated debate, according to his boss

The best political interviewers have built a reputation for holding everyone involved equally accountable.

‘The audience cannot discover any other purpose of the interview than to get to the heart of the matter.

We reject suggestions that we should not platform people with certain political views.

‘We don’t “platform” people, we report on them – interview them, challenge them, investigate them. Again, so the public can form their own opinions.

‘It is not our intention to please any particular side or any particular audience segment.

“We reject any approach that selects and censors who we are allowed to report on, based on an approved ideology.”